PETA weighs in on North County sheep deaths

May 13, 2014

Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is faulting the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office for not criminally charging local rancher Jean Jaureguy in the deaths of 25 sheep. [Tribune]

In February, a hiker discovered dozens of abnormally thin and weak sheep near trails at Heritage Ranch. The hiker also found dead sheep in ravines, in a creek and on a hillside.

But, the sheriff’s office determined that Jaureguy’s sheep died from a mild winter storm, as opposed to from neglect. High winds and excessive rains caused the deaths, the sheriff’s investigation concluded.

That sheep in the picture is MALNOURISHED no doubt about it. The only thing early sheering did was make it more apparent, and at after sheering the animal the farmer should have gotten this animal medical attention.

If this was a dog he would have been cited, shame of the sheriffs dept for allowing this farmer to get away with not treating these animals as living, breathing beings.

I think it has to do with the attempted excuse for the poor condition of the sheep leading to death having to do with a late storm…in other words, the sheared sheep were under stress from the cold because they were naked from shearing, causing them to expend more of its caloric resources in an effort to remain warm.

But even that excuse doesn’t wash because it is still the owner’s responsibility to provide adequate food, water and shelter.

Normally, sheep wouldn’t require a lot of shelter in the early spring. However, the owner decided to sheer the animals, and that necessitates shelter, food and water necessary to keep the animals alive in conditions that do not reach cruelty.